Equilibrium studies in solution involving nickel(II) complexes of flexidentate Schiff base ligands: isolation and structural characterization of the planar red and octahedral green species involved in the equilibrium

Three new flexidentate 5-substituted salicylaldimino Schiff base ligands (L1-OH-L3-OH) based on 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine (X=H, L1-OH; X=NO2, L2-OH; and X=Br, L3-OH) and their nickel(II) complexes (1a, 1b, 2, and 3) have been reported. The piperazinyl arm of these ligands can in principle have both boat and chair conformations that allow the ligands to bind the Ni(II) center in an ambidentate manner, forming square-planar and/or octahedral complexes. The nature of substitution in the salicylaldehyde aromatic ring and the type of associated anion in the complexes have profound influences on the coordination geometry of the isolated products. With the parent ligand L1-OH, the product obtained is either a planar red compound [Ni(L1-O)]+, isolated as tetraphenylborate salt (1a), or an octahedral green compound [Ni(L1-NH)(H2O)3](2+), isolated with sulfate anion (1b); both have been crystallographically characterized. In aqueous solution, both these planar (S=0) and octahedral (S=1) forms are in equilibrium that has been followed in the temperature range 298-338 K by 1H NMR technique using the protocol of Evans's method. The large exothermicity of the equilibrium process [Ni(L1-O)]+ + 3H2O + H+<=>[Ni(L1-NH)(H2O)3](2+) (DeltaH degrees=-46 +/- 0.2 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS degrees=-133 +/- 5 J K(-1) mol(-1)) reflects formation of three new Ni-OH2 bonds in going from planar to the octahedral species. With the 5-nitro derivative ligand L2-OH, the sole product is an octahedral compound 2, isolated as a sulfate salt while with the bromo derivative ligand L3-OH, the exclusive product is a planar molecule 3 with associated tetraphenylborate anion. Both 2 and 3 have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Unraveling the effect of defects,domain size,and chemical doping on photophysics and charge transport in covalent organic frameworks

Understanding the underlying physical mechanisms that govern charge transport in two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) will facilitate the development of novel COF-based devices for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications. In this context, the low-energy mid-infrared absorption contains valuable information about the structure–property relationships and the extent of intra- and inter-framework “hole” polaron delocalization in doped and undoped polymeric materials. In this study, we provide a quantitative characterization of the intricate interplay between electronic defects, domain sizes, pore volumes, chemical dopants, and three dimensional anisotropic charge migration in 2D COFs. We compare our simulations with recent experiments on doped COF films and establish the correlations between polaron coherence, conductivity, and transport signatures. By obtaining the first quantitative agreement with the measured absorption spectra of iodine doped (aza)triangulene-based COF, we highlight the fundamental differences between the underlying microstructure, spectral signatures, and transport physics of polymers and COFs. Our findings provide conclusive evidence of why iodine doped COFs exhibit lower conductivity compared to doped polythiophenes. Finally, we propose new research directions to address existing limitations and improve charge transport in COFs for applications in functional molecular electronic devices.

This study highlights the importance of mid-infrared spectral signatures and discusses the fundamental mechanisms driving charge transport in COFs. Our analysis can hopefully guide the rational design of new COFs yielding higher conductivities.     

Hexafluoroisopropanol: the magical solvent for Pd-catalyzed C–H activation

Among numerous solvents available for chemical transformations, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (popularly known as HFIP) has attracted enough attention of the scientific community in recent years. Several unique features of HFIP compared to its non-fluoro analogue isopropanol have helped this solvent to make a difference in various subdomains of organic chemistry. One such area is transition metal-catalyzed C–H bond functionalization reactions. While, on one side, HFIP is emerging as a green and sustainable deep eutectic solvent (DES), on the other side, a major proportion of Pd-catalyzed C–H functionalization is heavily relying on this solvent. In particular, for distal aromatic C–H functionalizations, the exceptional impact of HFIP to elevate the yield and selectivity has made this solvent irreplaceable. Recent research studies have also highlighted the H-bond-donating ability of HFIP to enhance the chiral induction in Pd-catalyzed atroposelective C–H activation. This perspective aims to portray different shades of HFIP as a magical solvent in Pd-catalyzed C–H functionalization reactions.

Among numerous solvents available for chemical transformations, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (popularly known as HFIP) has attracted enough attention of the scientific community in recent years.     

Fluorescence anisotropy decay and solvation dynamics in a nanocavity: coumarin 153 in methyl beta-cyclodextrins

Fluorescence anisotropy decay and solvation dynamics of coumarin 153 (C153) are studied in dimethyl beta-cyclodextrin (DIMEB) and trimethyl beta-cyclodextrin (TRIMEB) nanocavity in water. C153 binds to DIMEB and TRIMEB to form both 1:1 and 1:2 (C153:cyclodextrin) complexes. The anisotropy decays of C153 in DIMEB and TRIMEB are found to be biexponential. The fast component of anisotropy decay (approximately 1000 ps) is attributed to the 1:1 complex and the slower one (approximately 2500 ps) to the 1:2 complex. From the components of the anisotropy decay, the length of the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes are estimated. Solvation dynamics of C153 in DIMEB exhibits a very fast (2.4 ps) component (41%) and two slower components of 50 ps (29%) and 1450 ps (30%). Solvation dynamics in TRIMEB is described by three slow components of 10.3 ps (24%), 240 ps (45%), and 2450 ps (31%). Possible origins of the ultraslow components are discussed.     

Reactivities of osmium(VIII), iridium(IV) and platinum(IV) towards glycolaldehyde

Oxidations of glycolaldehyde (GA) to glyoxal by osmium(VIII), iridium(IV) and platinum(IV) have been investigated in aqueous solution, and the orders with respect to each [reactant] determined. The reaction involving iridium(IV) takes place through intermediate formation of free radicals in a MeCO₂Na-MeCO₂H buffer medium, whereas a one-step two-electron transfer process occurs in the oxidations by Os^VIII and Pt^IV in an alkaline medium. Mechanisms consistent with the experimental findings are proposed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Total synthesis and structural revision of (+)-amphidinolide W

An enantioselective first total syntheis of amphidinolide W (2) and a revision of its C6 absolute stereochemistry (1) are described. Amphidinolide W (1), a 12-membered macrolide isolated from Amphidinium sp., has shown potent antitumor properties against a variety of NCI tumor cell lines. The synthesis is convergent, and four of the five chiral centers were derived through asymmetric synthesis. The synthesis features Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, diastereoselective alkylation, efficient cross metathesis of functionalized substrates, and novel functional group transformations using selective lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the primary acetate group. Of particular note, the C6 absolute stereochemistry of amphidinolide W (1) has now been revised through our current synthesis.     

Reaction behaviour of dinuclear copper(I) complexes with m-xylyl-based ligands towards dioxygen

Intramolecular ligand hydroxylation was observed during the reactions of dioxygen with the dicopper(I) complexes of the ligands L(1)(L(1)=alpha,alpha'-bis[(2-pyridylethyl)amino]-m-xylene) and L(3)(L(3)=alpha, alpha'-bis[N-(2-pyridylethyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]-m-xylene). The dinuclear copper(I) complex [Cu(2)L(3)](ClO(4))(2) and the dicopper(II) complex [Cu(2)(L(1)-O)(OH)(ClO(4))]ClO(4) were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. Furthermore, phenolate-bridged complexes were synthesized with the ligand L(2)-OH (structurally characterized [Cu(2)(L(2)-O)Cl(3)] with L(2)=alpha, alpha'-bis[N-methyl-N-(2-pyridylethyl)amino]-m-xylene; synthesized from the reaction between [Cu(2)(L(2)-O)(OH)](ClO(4))(2) and Cl(-)) and Me-L(3)-OH: [Cu(2)(Me-L(3)-O)(mu-X)](ClO(4))(2)xnH(2)O (Me-L(3)-OH = 2,6-bis[N-(2-pyridylethyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]-4-methylphenol and X = C(3)H(3)N(2)(-)(prz), MeCO(2)(-) and N(3)(-)). The magnetochemical characteristics of compounds were determined by temperature-dependent magnetic studies, revealing their antiferromagnetic behaviour [-2J(in cm(-1)) values: -92, -86 and -88; -374].     

Regioselective synthesis of 1H,3H,6H[2]benzopyrano[4,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diones and 12H-benzopyrano[3,2-c][1]benzopyran-5-ones by radical cyclization

5-Hydroxy uracils or 4-hydroxy[1]benzopyran-2-ones were refluxed with 2-bromobenzyl bromides in acetone in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate to afford a number of 5-(2′-bromobenzyloxy) pyrimidine-2,4-dione (80-92%) or 4-(2′-bromobenzyloxy) benzopyran-7-ones (70-82%) respectively. These were then refluxed with tri-n-butyltin chloride and sodium cyanoborohydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) for 3-4 h to give 1H,3H,6H [2]benzopyrano[4,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diones (75-85%) or 12H-benzopyrano[3,2-c][1]benzopyran-5-ones (70-85%) respectively.